Mel Brooks' new memoir is short on the laughs By PJ Grisar, Forward Nov 30, 2021 This piece first appeared at the Forward. Mel Brooks’ memoir begins with a promise. In a preface, the 95-year-old actor-writer-director vows an intimate confession — not to be shared with anyone. Then, he thinks a bit more about the economics. “This book needs to sell!” Brooks realizes. “Tell all! Tell everybody! Let everybody you know… Read More
Celebrity Jews Paul Rudd is sexy; Batsheva Haart is separated; etc. One sexy Jew Paul Rudd, the 52-year-old Jewish movie star whose original family name was Rudnitsky, has been named People magazine’s “sexiest man alive”… By Maya Mirsky Nov 22, 2021
TV Overanalyzing 'The Shrink Next Door,' AppleTV's very Jewish new series Built for bingeing and designed to be discussed, “The Shrink Next Door” drops audiences into 1980s New York City and into the life of Marty Markowitz, who… By Esther D. Kustanowitz Nov 19, 2021
TV Netflix’s ‘The Club’ shatters taboos with rare portrait of Turkish Jews Imported Israeli TV has given Netflix several big hits in recent years, largely focused on the travails of Orthodox Ashkenazi Jews. The latest breakout… By David I. Klein, JTA Nov 18, 2021
Film Dean Stockwell, dead at 85, inspired Jewish moviegoers Dean Stockwell, the Hollywood actor who died on Nov. 7 at age 85, is best remembered for appearances in such films as “Dune,” “Blue Velvet,” and “Married… By Benjamin Ivry, Forward Nov 10, 2021
Celebrity Jews Brian Epstein gets a statue; Scarlett Johansson settles with Disney Lifestyles of the rich Adrien Brody has appeared on the hit HBO show “Succession” in a cameo meant to be all-too-revealing about antisemitism. He plays a… By Maya Mirsky Nov 10, 2021
TV ‘Succession’: Adrien Brody brings Jewishness — and antisemitism SPOILER ALERT: This piece contains plot details about HBO’s “Succession,” including extensive details about the Season 3 episode “Lion in the Meadow” that… By Philissa Cramer, JTA Nov 9, 2021
TV Why a multiracial Jewish family swapped homes with Mormons on TV Last month a multiracial Jewish family appeared on American network television for what may be the first time, and during primetime no less. The… By Andrew Esensten Nov 4, 2021
Opinion No, Jewish characters do not need to be played by Jewish actors I was never a fan of the late Joan Rivers. Nevertheless, I would have looked forward to the television series based on her life. Except, it is not… By Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin, RNS Nov 4, 2021